Doom's been ported to everything from toasters to refrigerators, seemingly leaving little room for innovation. However, a high school student has achieved the seemingly impossible: porting Doom to a PDF file playable within a browser.
While lacking sound and detailed text, the ability to play E1M1 while ostensibly working on taxes is undeniable appeal.
Github user ading2210, inspired by TetrisPDF, leveraged Javascript within a browser's PDF reader to accomplish this feat. Browser security limitations restrict the full potential of PDF scripting, but it proved sufficient for a Doom port.
Using a six-color ASCII grid for visuals, ading2210 created a surprisingly playable, albeit slow (80ms per frame), version of Doom.
While not a replacement for modern gaming hardware, the achievement of running Doom within a PDF is remarkable for its legibility and ingenuity. TetrisPDF creator Thomas Rinsma even praised ading2210's "neater" implementation on Hacker News.
Although not ideal for a first-time Doom experience, the continued porting of Doom to unusual platforms, files, and even bacteria remains a testament to its enduring legacy and the creativity of its fans.
